As I said in my short prelim piece, the Northern Meeting in Inverness is about more than just the piping. From the reception in the Town House last Wednesday to the Eden Court prizegiving on the Friday evening, fraternal feelings mixed with high elation and consolation.
By the Editor
It was heartening to see it. Though pipers grumble in private, in public they act with the best of manners and decorum, ready to congratulate and commiserate sincerely in equal measure. Judges were often on hand in the foyer and the bar for a quick word about a performance.
Wednesday evening saw the band of Queen’s Own Highlanders ex-service put on a stoic show in poring rain. A fine way to launch the Meetings….
Thursday I took in what I could of the Gold Medal. I heard the winning tune from Brodie Watson-Massey. It was as fine a Gold Medal winning performance as you will hear. This young man handled the pressure of the main stage in Eden Court as one born to it.
Afterwards he talked briefly to me of his success: ‘I am absolutely delighted to say the least. It is the result of a lot of hard work, good tuition and good guidance.
‘I arrived up in Inverness early as I was playing at the reception in the Town House. The pipes were behaving, and the following day I had a good draw, on right after lunch. I knew exactly when I would be playing.
‘I was happy with the tune selected for me. The stage was a bit weird at first and the temperature a little different than the tuning room. But I managed to get the pipes in with still about a minute on the clock. I played a part of a variation and started into the tune with confidence, trying to take it by the scruff of the neck.
‘Val, the Northern Meeting Secretary, showed me a picture of when I was 13 when I came up here and won the U15 Overall. It was 2016, the year Ian K MacDonald won the medal. I have been following it ever since. I can’t really put into words how I feel.’
Proud Dad
Stephen Bullock: ‘Thought you might like a picture of our son Alasdair Bullock age 14 with his tutor Angus D MacColl who has been tutoring him since he first picked up a chanter less than four years ago.
‘Both had a great day in Inverness with Alasdair receiving a trophy for placing third in MSR, third in Piobaireachd and also the trophy for Dress and Deportment, whilst Angus picked up the trophy for second place in the Gold Clasp.’
Other tunes I heard were Angus MacPhee with Lament for the Departure, better than at Braemar but a wee bit to go yet. A fine performance nevertheless on a solid bagpipe. John McDonald was another I heard. His MacLean’s March was well played only marred by a lack of patience in the Variation 1 doubling. Cameron May was going along fine in Ronald MacDonald of Morar when he lost composure in the crunluath and a mach.
From what the judges said the standard overall was better in the afternoon than in the morning.
Correspondent Jack Taylor kindly sent his thoughts on the Gold and Silver Medals: ‘I heard Gold and Silver winners – both thoughtful well practiced performances, pipes spot on. Brodie: Stewart’s White Banner – kept it moving, good energy towards the end of the tune. Callum Wynd: MacFarlane’s, poised, studied, well-paced.
‘Darach Urquhart (second) seemed nervous and uncertain especially at the start of his tune. Steven Leask (fourth) and Jamie Forrester were contenders, as was Ben MacClamrock whose Ronald MacDonald of Morar hit the spot for me. T and C doublings a shade rushed maybe.
‘Callum Brown went into the doubling instead of the singling of V1 of Lady Margaret for four notes and recovered seemlessly, otherwise solid on an excellent pipe. Cameron May: lyrical, groundwork especially, small slip towards the end.
‘Alex Gandy had a choke towards the end of Prince’s Salute, and passing notes at phrase ends were very short. Dan Lyden: Rout of the MacPhees in Silver – very musical, catching phrasing well, mild drone drift and rotten luck having to contend with mowers outside.
‘James McPetrie inexplicably slowed the rhythm in the crunluath of Chisholm’s Salute. Anna Kummerlöw unsettled in the Viscount, didn’t get the pipe fully locked. Enjoyed it all.’
- Stay tuned for part 2.
‘Highland Bagpipe Music’ by Donald Morrison – digital book
This book was first produced shortly before Donald died in 1988. Languishing out of print, it surfaced in 2021 following contact between Piping Press editor Robert Wallace and Donald’s daughter Sheona. Sheona agreed that it should be offered to the piping public once more at nominal cost, the aim being to preserve her father’s musical legacy. Donald Morrison was the complete piper a fine teache…